Mining machine



M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHINE July 22, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May. 1, 1922 y 23, 1930- Q P. HOLMES 1,770,922

MINING MACHINE Filed May 1 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 22, 193CMessrs in HOLMES; cnnnniicirr nnw ji mairsnren, ism-acmeenemas 1 QCECZiN EZRY COMPANY, econrons'rron' or'fiaassncnnsnrrs MINI G mem Aplication filed M y hi invention relates to minin machines.

It has for itsobject to provide animproved cutter chain: drivingmechanism for such a machine and improved. cooperating feeding. 5 and..feed" controlling mechanism therefor,-

whereby the operation ofthe machine is maiterially improved'and wherebythe-mecha-" nlSnT is materially simplified and rendered more flexible 1noperation. .Theseand other ob ects and advantages of my improved construction' will,'. however, hereinafter more Fig. 1 isa plan viewpartially in section of a miningmachine construeted'to provide anillustrative embodiment of my inventlon.

Fig. '2 is a side elevation partially in sec--- tion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 In this illustrativeconstruction I have shown a mining machine of the room and pillar typec'omprising'a casing 1 slidable on so its bottom. 2 on the mine bottomand carrying a cutter bar 4 provided with the usual circu-' Indescribing my improved construction, 1 -W]ll first describe the cutterchain driving: mechanism. The cutter chain 5 is driven by.

a driving sprocket 8 rotatable on a vertical axis adjacent the rear endof the machine; f

Here it will be noted: that the armatureshait of the motor 6 is providedwith a beveled pin 45. ion 9 in turn meshing with a "horizontallydisposed larger bevel gear 10 rotatable on a ball bearing 10concentricwith a-"vertica-l stud f 11 on the'rear end ofthe frame. Thisgear "10 is inturn connected as through nuts 12 to a sleeve carrying alower pinionil3 which in:

invention may assume in int carrying cutter'chain- 5 and" 1922. 5 SerialNb. ?,66-1,

. rmeshesiwith a pluralityoL- herein three, radially located pinions 14j ournaled in suit able ball bearings 15 on-a spider 16, while thepinions 14 mesh Wltll. an internal gear 17 at-' tached aisby screws 18to the sprocket member 8 and which with that member isjournaled onroller bearings 19; herein located between ball bearings 20, so as tovrotaterelative to the spider. and the lower end of the stud. As

shown, the spider is also provided with an up{ standing sleeve21rotatable on the studinside the sleeve carrying the pinion 13,andsuitable bearing sleeves 22 and 23are'provided on'the' opposite sidesof this s1eeve21 while the roller bearings are enclosed in. suitablesleeves 24 and 25. Afla'nge'd ringl26 is also interposed betweenthelower roller bearing 19 and the lower ball bearing 20, whileare'taining member 27, flush with and attached to the bottom plate bysuitable screws 28 and to a reduced.

portion 29 on the stud by a suitable screw 30, is provided tohold theparts in the desired assembled relation. .As illustrated, the gear a H ii i 1 17 is also provided with a friction surface-.31

4 is a detail sectional View onv line 44 I of the frame, herein adjacentthe feed opcrating member, and having its nutrotated by a hand wheel 31.. V f 1 Cooperating'with this mechanism is the feeding mechanism. Thismechanism is herein. connected to'and-driven by thesleeve-21 on "thespider, the same being connected through a clutchconnection'35 actingsemi-"f permanently to connectthis'sleeve with a worm carrying sleeve 36rotatable on the upper end'of the stud relative toa flanged :be'ar'ingsleeve 37,the bearing 10; anda ball bearing 38 removable through the topof the ,or thestud; Assho'wn, this worm gear rotatesiwith the casing4C4? ofa differential; here- 1!]..COII1P11S1HQ" SQIIQSjOf beveled gears,hereln machine frameand, uponremoval-of a cap V and 'ournaled in asuitable bushin C1 'side'of the machine frame 1.

three, carried on a spider 46 and meshing .with oppositely disposedbevel gears 47 and 48 rotatable on a transverse shaft 49. As shown, thegears 45 are suitably journaled on ball bearings 50 on the spider studs,the spider is keyed to the shaft 49 as at 51, and the gears 47 and48arecarried on sleeves 52 and 53,.

suitably journaled in ball bearings .54'idisposed between the same andtheditferential casing. As shown herein,thesleeve 52 is also keyed as at55 to the hub of a friction pulley 56-the rotation of which iscontrolled.- by a suitable brake band 57 through a controlling member58, while the sleeve 52 is'also 'connected through a seml-permanentclutch 59- \vitha sleeve 60, This sleeve'60 which is yournaled in asuitable bushing 61 carries at its outer end a spur pinion 62 whichmeshes with an internal gear 68 upon a suitable drum member 64jOlllllttletl in an appropriatemanner upon the left hand side of themachine frame 1. Also it will be noted that the sleeve 53 is keyed as at65 to the hub of a friction pulley 66 controlled by a brake band 67operlated by a controlling member 68 and that this sleeve 53 isconnected throu h a semiernn'inent clutch 69 with a sleeve 70. Thesleeve 70 likewise carries at its outer end a drivingpinion? 1 meshingwith an internalgear 7 2 73. The internal gear 72 is formed upon a drummember'74 suitably journaled on the right hand Appropriate holdingmeans, indicated at 75, are provided for the purpose of holding thesleeves GO and 70 in appropriate longitudinal position rela'-- tive tothe shaft 49.

Coo-pera't ngwith the drums 64 and '14 are suitable flexible feedingmembers78 and 79 off to a suitable takeup member adjacent the.

right hand rib. In order to permit the machine to cut in oppositedirections there are provided additional guiding sprockets 82 and 83corresponding respectively to the sprockets 81 and andarrangedrcspectively at the opposite sides of the machine frame fromtheir corresponding sheaves. It will be understood that the flexiblemembers '78 and 79 may be wound in either direction on their respectivedrums and maybe variously reeved relative to the sheaves 80, 82 and 81,83.

The mode of operation of this mechanism when cutting across a face fromright'to left may now be'described and from this description one skilledinthe art will be able to un-' derstand theoperation of thejmachineunderother conditions. Let it be assumedthat the lllZLChlllG has beensumpedinto the coal and straightened up to the face, that the rear endof the flexible feeding member 79 is connected to a take-up memberadjacent the right hand rib and that the forward end of the member 78.is connected to a jack adjacent the left hand rib and relatively closeto the face. The cutter chain must circulate under these circumstancesin acounter-clockwise movement through its orbit. It will therefore befound that, looking forward, the bevel pinion 9 upon the armature shaftis rotating in a counterclockwise direction, driving the pinion 10 in aclockwise. direction viewed from above. This causes the gear 13 torotate in a clockwise direct-ion viewed from above and the latter drivesthe several pinions 14 in a counterclockw se direction, causing them todrlve the internal gear 17 which is connected as previously described tothe cutter chain driving sprocket 8 in a counterclockwise direction sothat thecutter chain is rotatedin the necessary' direction. chain ofcourse presents a substantial resist- During cutting the cutter ance'tobeing dragged through the coal and accordingly the gear 17 does notrotate as rapidly as would be possible-were there no resistance opposedto its'rotation. It thereforeifollows that the gears 14 being unabletodrive the gears 17 at a speed equal to their peripheral speed, rollina clockwise direction around the internal gear carrying with them thespider member 16 which is connected to the worm 36 and causing therebythe worm 36 to rotate in a clockwise direction. It will be observed fromFig. 2 that this worm has a left han d thread and as a result it causesthe worm wheel 43 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as seen inFig. 2/ If the two pinions 62 and 71 present equal resistances torotation, thedrums 64 and"! 4 will be rotated in the same direction andat equal speeds and in view of the way-in which the rope is wound uponthe drums it will be found that the drum 64 avill rotate in a directionto wind in the flexible portion 7 8while the drum 7 4 will rotate in adirect-ion to pay out the-flexible portion 79.

Accordingly, the machine would be moved across the face while maintainedperpendicular tothe'face. It Willbc observed that the rope 78 must beunder a substantial tension in order to move the machine. which tensionresists the rotation of the drum64 while the pulling of the machineacross the face places the rope 79 under a tension which tends'to aidthe rotation of the drum 74. It is therefore evident that the drumswould not rotate in the same direction and at equal speeds'due to thepresence of the differential unless the friction-member 66 were loadedto'the extent necessary to cause 'agresistance to rotation in t-heca seoft-he pinion 71 equal to that in the ciaseof the pinion 62. This isthereforedone aiichtheimachine tllQIlzillOVB'S across theface in themanner described. virtue ofthe construct-ion just described it-will beevident that by tightening the brake band 67 still further, the sp'eedofrotation of the pinion 62 may be increased abovethat of the pin1on7l.

There will accordingly resulta more rapid Y WiIlCll" in of the flexibleportion 78 than the paying out of the flexible portion 7 9. are

' cordingly; the bar will move forward more rapidly and the machinewillbe angled-inbne direction. By slackening off the friction upon drumstwice as rapid as when they are rotating at the same speech-therebypermitting a more rapid movement during shifting of the machine fromplace to place and during sum pi ng.

Moreover, when a very rapid 'movementof the machine is desired. this is1 extending around the guide sheaves witheasily obtained by manipulationof the controlling mechanism-33 'in' such lmanner as to lock the cutterchain entirely, a relatively high speed of movement of the machine frameover the mine bottom then being p0 sible. During cutting from left toright, the motor will obviously be reversed which will cause, withoutany changein the'direction of winding of the flexible members upon the dums, paying out of the flexible member 78 and winding in of theflexible: member 79. V

effecting lateralrfeed andcontrolhng ma-- By virtue of the dispositionofthe members 80 and 82, and 81 and 83bit will be readily possibleto'carry the member '78 back from the member 80, aroundthe member 82 andon? to a takc-up member at the left'hand rib. while the member 79 may becarried forward and around the member 83. That is to say, while theflexible portions 78 and 79 areleft which they are shown cooperating inFig. 1,

they may be caused to leave the machine;

frame at the opposite ends of the latter from their present dispositionwith the result that the machine will be appropriatelyguided whencutting from left to right. Other pos-j' sibilities as to the operationof this mechanism will readily present themselves tov one skilled inthis art and accordingly it seems unnecessary to provide a more detaileddiscussion.

While I have in this application specifi cally described one form.whiclimy inventi ,n may assume in practice, will be understood that thisform of the same s shown for purposes of illustration and that the 1n-'vention may be modified and embodied in various other-forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope oi the appended clalms. 'VVhat Iclaim as new and desireto; secure.

by Letters Patent is In a mining machine, "feeding mecha nism thereforinclud ng a dilterent al havmg rbita'lly movable elementsfand controhlable to vary the feed;- cutting mechanism ineluding orbitallymoving'elements, "and driV- orbitally movable elements and controllableV to va-ry thefeed,cutting mechanism includlng orblt ally movableelements, a motor, and power transmittingconnections betweensaid V'forsaidmechanisms including a motor and: mechanical connectionsbetween- 1 movement of the motor and said mechanisms for drivinggthe'inversely varying speeds. V r

3. 'lnainining machine, mechanism for I effecting lateralteed includingflexible feeding means, a rotatable feed operating member.cooperatingtherewith, and differential means including orbitally movableelements 7 and controllable to vary the'speed and power transmitted tosaid member, cutting mechanism including orbitally movable elements, amotor, and power transmittingconnections orbitally iovable elements or"the latter at between said motor and the orbitally 'movable elementsofsaidmechanisms for'eiiecting the supply or" power theretoflin inverseratio 1 f i 4;. In a mining machine, mechanism'for -riable speed-devicetoretl'ecting drive" at any speed between, Zero and a. predeterminedmammum, and a single diflerential driven by said variable speed deviceand through'which said members are driven, said 'difierential heir-4;controllable, to eflect rotation of said members at mverselyvaryingspeeds.

nism for effecting lateral teedand controlling machine "angle includingfleXible'feed-' ving means, rotatable feed operating and controllingmembers" cooperating with said fieX- ible feeding means, and'difierential means controllable to vary the power distribution to saidmembers, cutting mechanism, a mooperating and. i

" between said'motor' anl said feedfoperating and centrolhngkmembetsincluding a '.va-"

51-11: a mining machine', feeding mechasting mechanisms for effectingoperation thereof at inverselyvarying speeds."

6. In a mlning machine, cutting mechachine in a direction parallel to aWorking face during cutting, and driving means for said mechanismsincluding a motor'and power transmission connectionsbetween said motorand said mechanisms for driving the latter at inversely varying speeds,said feeding mechanism comprising adifi'erential including elementsmovable in an orbit upon transmiss on of power thereto by sald motor.

K. In a mining machine, cutting mechanism, feeding mechanism for feedingthe ma-- chine in a direction parallel to a working face during cutting,driving means'for said mechanisms including a motor and powertransmission connections between said motor and said. mechanisms fordriving the latter at inversely varying speeds, said feeding mechanismcomprisinga differential including elements movable in an orbit upontransmission of power thereto by said motor, and friction means forcontrolling the rotation of. the elements of the latter. v

, 8. Ina mining .machine, cutting mechanism, feeding mechanism forfeeding the machine in a direction parallel to a Working face duringcutting, driving means for said cutting and feeding mechanisms includinga motor and power transmission connections between said motor and saidcutting and feeding mechanisms for driving the latter at inverselyvarying speeds, said feeding mechanism comprising a differential, andfeedoperating and controlling members operatively connected to separateelements of the differ- V ential.

9. In a mining machine, cutting mechanism, feeding mechanism for feedingthe machine in adirectionparallel to a Working face during cutting,driving means for said cut ting and feeding mechanisms including amotor-and power transmission connections betWeensa-id motor and saidcutting and'feeding mechanisms for driving the latter at inverselyvarying speeds, said feeding mechanism comprising a difierential, feedoperating and controlling members operatively connected to thedifferential, and independent controlling means for'said members.

10. In ,-a.m1-n1ng machlne, cutting mecha- -;n:ism, feeding'mechanismfor feeding the machine :in a direction parallel to a Working facedluring cutting, driving means for saidcutnting and feeding mechanismsincluding a -mo'tor. and power transmission connections sloetween sagijdmotor and said cutting and feedgmechanisms for driving the latter atinersely-varyingspeeds, said-feeding mecha- -:n-ism comprising adifferential, feed operatingaand controlling members operatlv'elyconnectedv to the differential, and independent friction controlledcontrolling means for said members. a

11. In a mining machine, cutter chain driv-.

ing mechanism connected to one element of a nism, feeding mechanlsm forfeeding the ma- .frictionally controlled planetary gearing,

feeding mechanism connected to another element thereof including adifferential, and a feed operating member and a controlling memb roperatively connected to different elements of said differential.

'13; Ina mining'machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to oneelement of a frit ona'lly controlled planetary gearing,

feeding mechanism connected to another element thereof including adifierential, a feed operating member and a controlling memberoperatively connected to different elements of said diferential, andindependent controlling means for said members.

1a. In a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to'one element of a frictionally controlled planetary gearing, feedingmechanismconnected to another element thereof including a differential,a feed operating member and a controlling member operatively connectedto different elements of said differential, and independent frictionallycontrolled controlling means for said members. i r

15. In a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to oneelementof a frictionally controlled planetary gearing, Worm gearingconnected to another one of the elements thereof, a differential drivenby said Worm gearing, and feeding mechanism driven by said differential.

16. In a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to oneelement of a frictionally controlled planetary gearing, Worm gearingconnected to another one of the elements thereof, a differential drivenby said Worm gearing, and feeding mechanism driven by said differentialincluding independently controlled feed operating and controllingmembers. I

1?. a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to oneelement of a frictionally controlled planetary gearin \vorm gearingconnected to another one of the elements thereof, a differentialdriven by said WOIIII ring, and feeding mechanism driven by saiddifferential including a frictionally controlled feed operating and africtionally controlled 5 controlling member;

18. In a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanismconnected to oneelement of a frictionally controlled planetary gearing, -wormgear1ngconnected to another one of-the controlled controlling member,

controlled feed operating and 'frictionally bel'S; 1! 1 .1

19,; The (ZOll'lblIlLtlOll' chine; oii cutter'chain drl feeding cineanscooperating withisaid -mem mining ma trolled planetary gearing,- Wormgearingcom an d controlhng in controlling members. i a 1 21. in a miningapparatus, mechan sm tor a diii erent l driven by s aid Worm gearinfeeding ii 7 anism including fee -d opera nected to another onefof theelementsthereoi i -erential, and flexible feeding cooperatin gwithopposite sides of said machine.-

20." In a mining apparatus, mechanism for:

feeding a machine of tlieiiroom'and pillar-type and for controllingi-tsangle to auivorlringf face including a plurality oi feed operating andcontrolling menibers' adapted to cooperate directly withflexible'feeding means, and driving mechanism; for said. members includavariable, speed r-differential mechanism anda differential driven.thereby, said diliere ential having corresponding elements operativ-ely.connected tothe feed operating and feeding a machine of the room andpillartype and for contrelllng its angle toa Worlnng iaee includingapluralit-ylof feed operating and;

controlling members adapted to cooperate directly WliIlIflGXlblB feedingmeans, anddriv ing and controlling mechanism for saidvmem here includinga variable speedwdifi erential ments'operatively connected tothe feedeper and for centrolling itsj angle to a working time includingaplurality of feed-operating and controlling 'members adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding meana'anjd driving and controllinmechanism for said members incl ding a variable dili'erential inechani nand flexible g 'mechanism con-i nected to one ielenienmoif africtionally con- 7 '"nbers driven by said dirsaid members andhavingpee: tions extending 711 1 oppesltedirections troln v 'feedoperatmgmember and a 7 and a difi'erential driven: thereby,'said diii'erentialhaving correspond entialat different speeds inversely .p r'opor-e tionalto speeds of the cutting mechanism.

24;. In a mining apparatus, mechanism for feeding-a machine of the room.and pillar type.

and for controlling its angle to aworking face including feed operatingand controllingmeans on the machine including ,a' motor; a

' d *erential, worm and vvorml gear I driving mechanism therefor, and Imeansdriven by said'fmotor for rotating 'sai-divorm at .Widely feeding ainachineiof the room and pillar .iierent speeds between zero andaiprede-L. t-e-rm'..1ed maximum While said motor speed ran tinsconstantx7 i 25: Ina mining apparatus, mechanism for V type "bodily laterallyover-the mine bottom during the cutting operation and for controlling-its angle to a working faceincluding a member, flexible. feedingmeans controlling cooperating, with sald members lncludlng advanceandre;

a ling flexible feeding' portions extending in oppositefdirections'fromOpposite ends of the; machmefiariablespeed means through which both ofsaid members are driven for effecting matically operative uponretardation of one member to increase'the speed'of operation or. theother.

'26; In a mi'nin a) aratusmechanism. for b l a a:

flexible feeding means cooperatingwith' said I 1' members includingadvance and receding mechanism and a difierentialdriven thereby, saiddIfi QFQZ lbHll having corresponding: el-e-- flexible feeding portionsextending: in, opposite directions-from opposite ends of themachine,variablespeed means through which ating and controlling membersandme'ansi'or controlling the rotation of said members 7 22. In aminingapparatus,"mechanismfor feeding a machine of the room and-pillartype} mati'cally operative.uponiretardation of either memberto increasethe-speed ofthe other; I

27. Ina mininga-pparatus, mechanism for fee'dmg a machine ofthe room andpillar type bodily laterally over the mine bottom during the cuttingoperation and'for controlling its angle to a Working face includingafeediop crating member and a controlling member, 'fienibl'effeejdingmeans cooperating Withs'aid members including advance I and receding 5flexible feeding portions extending in oppositefdirections from oppositeends ofthe machine, variable speed means through which both of saidmembers are driven for effecting drive thereof at'any speedbetweengzeroand a predetermined maximum, and means driven through saidi variablespeed means and auto-' matically-operative upon-anli'n'ciease in speed Ifeedin'g'a machine of the room andIpillar t-ype bodily laterally overthe mine bottomduring" the cutting operation and for controlling its.angle to thevvorking faceineluding a feed" operating member andacontrolling member,

ofsaid. controlling member to decrease the speed ofisaid.feedoperatingmember.

28. Inla miningapparatus, mechanism for feeding a machine of the roomand pillar type bodily laterallyover the mine bottom during the cuttingoperationand for controlling its.

flexible feeding portionsextending in opposite directions from oppositeends of the machine, variable speed means through which both of saidmembers are; driven for effecting drive thereof at any speed betweenZero and a predetermined maximum, and means driven through said variablespced'means and automatically operative upon an increase in speed ofeither memberto decrease the speed of the other.- l

-29. In a mining apparatus, mechanism for feeding amachine of the roomand pillar type and for controlling its angle to a working faceincluding a pluralityof feed operating and controlling members, drivinggearing thereforincluding a differential having corresponding'elementsconnected to said feed opcrating and controllingmembers, and meansmanually controllable to effect rotation of said differential at anyspeed from zero to a given maximum. 30. In a mining machine, feedingmechanism thereforincluding a differential having 1 v a differential,and a feed operating member and: a controlling member operativelyconorbitally movable elements and controllable to vary thefeed, cuttingmechanism including orbitally movable elements, and driving means forsaid mechanisms including a motor and mechanical connections betweensaid mo-. tor and said orbitallvniovable elements for, automaticallydecreasing the speed of certain of said orbitally movable elements uponan increasein speed of theother orbitally movable elements.

31. In a mining machine, fee-ding mechanism therefor including adifferential having orbitally movable elements and controllable to varythe feed, cutting mechanismincluding cutting devices and driving meanstherefor including orbitally movable'driving elements,a motor, andmechanical power transmitting connections between said motor and saidmechanisms for driving the orbitally movable elements of the latter atinversely varying speeds.

32. In a mining machine, mechanism for. effecting lateral feed includingflexible feeding means, a rotatable feed operating member cooperatingtherewith, and d1fierent1al means including orbitally movable elementsand controllable to vary the speed and power transmitted to saidmember,cutting mechanism including cutting devices and driving means thereforincluding orbitallymova'ble driving elements, a motor, andmechanicalpower transmittingconnections between said said mechanisms foreffecting the supply of power thereto in inverse ratio.

33'. In a miningmachine, cutting mechanism, feeding. mechanism forfeeding the machine in a direction parallel to a working face duringcutting, and driving means for said mechanisms including a motor andmechanical power transmission connections between said motor and saidcutting andfeeding mechanisms for driving the latter at inverselyvarying speeds, said feeding mechanism comprising a differentialincluding elements movable in an orbit upon transmission of powerthereto by said motor. i

34. In a mining apparatus, mechanism for feeding a machine 'of the roomand pillar type and for controlling its angle to a working faceincluding feed operating means on the ma- 1 elements of saiddifferential, worm and worm gear driving mechanism therefor, and meansdriven by said motorfor rotating said worm at widely different speedsandany intermediatespeed while said motor speed remains constant. V

35. In a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to oneelement of a planetary gearing, feeding mechanism connected to anotherelement thereof including nected to different ential.

36. In amining machine, cutter chain driving mechanismconnected to oneelement of a planetary gearing, feeding mechanism connected to anotherelement thereof including a differential, a feed operating member and acontrolling member operatively connected to different elements of saiddifferential, and inldependent controlling means for said memers.

37. In a mining machine, cutter chain driving mechanism connected to oneelement of a planetary gearing, feeding mechanism connected to anotherelement thereof including a differential, a'feed operating member'and-acontrolling member operatively connected to different elements of saiddifierential, and inelements of said differdependentjfrictionallycontrolled controlling MGR-BIS P; HOLMES.

